Scenic drive: Flagstaff to Valle

by Jill Cassidy - Dec. 31, 2010 02:40 PMThe Arizona Republic

Winter weather has finally come to northern Arizona, so get out and enjoy it while you can. The 51-mile stretch of U.S. 180 from Flagstaff northwest to Valle is packed with places to pull off and build a snowman or have a snowball fight along the Flagstaff stretch, plus wide-open high-desert vistas and an airplane museum at the Valle end. The road is in good condition, but drive with caution if you're there on a snowy day. The road is curvy along the base of the San Francisco Peaks and you're likely to encounter gusty wind, blowing snow and icy patches. Things to do along the way:

Arizona Snowbowl: Hit the slopes or just play in the snow. There are 32 runs and five lifts for skiers and snowboarders, plus a day lodge with restaurant. Rent gear and take a lesson if you're a beginner. Snowboarders will enjoy the Sunset Terrain Park's obstacles, spines, rails and fun boxes. The Ski Lift Lodge & Cabins, at U.S. 180 and Snowbowl Road, has 25 rooms and a restaurant. Snowbowl Road is 7 miles north of Flagstaff.Details: 928-779-1951, www.arizonasnowbowl.com.

Flagstaff Nordic Center: Here you can rent snowshoes or cross-country skis, take a lesson and then head out on more than 25 miles of groomed trails. The center even has a ski-in yurt for the adventurous who want to stay overnight in solitude. This round canvas tent has lighting and a wood-burning stove but no running water. The Nordic Center is 15 miles north of Flagstaff at mile marker 232.Details: 928-220-0550, www.flagstaffnordiccenter.com.

Planes of Fame: This museum at the Valle Airport has more than 30 civilian and military aircraft on display, including a Grumman Duck seaplane, Messerschmitt 109G-10, Gen. Douglas McArthur's Lockheed Constellation and an A-1 Sky Raider. Among other events, the museum also hosts the High Country Warbirds Fly-In each June; check the Web site for details. The museum is at U.S. 180 and Arizona 64 in Valle.Details: 928-635-1000, www.planesoffame.org.

A snowboarder catches some air at Arizona Snowbowl north of Flagstaff.

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Total miles: About 400, round trip. From central Phoenix, take Interstate 17 north to Flagstaff, then take U.S. 180 northwest to Valle. Return the way you came.Don't miss: The Museum of Northern Arizona. This little gem is in a rustic stone building on a wooded site. It has almost 5 million items in four collections: geology, biology, anthropology and fine art. Ancient Puebloan, Hopi and Navajo art are well represented, and the geology collection includes rocks and fossils of animals and plants that inhabited the Colorado Plateau. The museum is at 3101 N. Fort Valley Road. 928-774-5213, www.musnaz.org.